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Mazzucca S, Parks RG, Tabak RG, Allen P, Dobbins M, Stamatakis KA, Brownson RC. Assessing Organizational Supports for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Public Health Departments in the United States: Development and Psychometric Properties of a New Measure. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2020; 25:454-463. [PMID: 31348160 PMCID: PMC6614014 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000000952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Fostering evidence-based decision making (EBDM) within local public health departments and among local health department (LHD) practitioners is crucial for the successful translation of research into public health practice to prevent and control chronic disease. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify organizational supports for EBDM within LHDs and determine psychometric properties of a measure of organizational supports for EBDM in LHDs. DESIGN Cross-sectional, observation study. SETTING Local public health departments in the United States. PARTICIPANTS Local health department practitioners (N = 376) across the United States participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Local health department practitioners completed a survey containing 27 items about organizational supports for EBDM. Most items were adapted from previously developed surveys, and input from researchers and practitioners guided survey development. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test and refine the psychometric properties of the measure. RESULTS The final solution included 6 factors of 22 items: awareness of EBDM (3 items), capacity for EBDM (7 items), resources availability (3 items), evaluation capacity (3 items), EBDM climate cultivation (3 items), and partnerships to support EBDM (3 items). This factor solution achieved acceptable fit (eg, Comparative Fit Index = 0.965). Logistic regression models showed positive relationships between the 6 factors and the number of evidence-based interventions delivered. CONCLUSIONS This study identified important organizational supports for EBDM within LHDs. Results of this study can be used to understand and enhance organizational processes and structures to support EBDM to improve LHD performance and population health. Strong measures are important for understanding how LHDs support EBDM, evaluating interventions to improve LHD capacity, and to guide programmatic and policy efforts within LHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Mazzucca
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
| | - Renee G. Parks
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
| | - Rachel G. Tabak
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
| | - Peg Allen
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
| | - Maureen Dobbins
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
| | - Katherine A. Stamatakis
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
| | - Ross C. Brownson
- Prevention Research Center in St Louis, Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Drs Mazzucca, Tabak, Allen, and Brownson and Ms Parks); National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools and Health Evidence, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada (Dr Dobbins); Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Stamatakis); and Department of Surgery (Division of Public Health Sciences) and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Dr Brownson)
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Brownson RC, Fielding JE, Green LW. Building Capacity for Evidence-Based Public Health: Reconciling the Pulls of Practice and the Push of Research. Annu Rev Public Health 2018; 39:27-53. [PMID: 29166243 PMCID: PMC5972383 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-014746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Timely implementation of principles of evidence-based public health (EBPH) is critical for bridging the gap between discovery of new knowledge and its application. Public health organizations need sufficient capacity (the availability of resources, structures, and workforce to plan, deliver, and evaluate the preventive dose of an evidence-based intervention) to move science to practice. We review principles of EBPH, the importance of capacity building to advance evidence-based approaches, promising approaches for capacity building, and future areas for research and practice. Although there is general agreement among practitioners and scientists on the importance of EBPH, there is less clarity on the definition of evidence, how to find it, and how, when, and where to use it. Capacity for EBPH is needed among both individuals and organizations. Capacity can be strengthened via training, use of tools, technical assistance, assessment and feedback, peer networking, and incentives. Modest investments in EBPH capacity building will foster more effective public health practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross C Brownson
- Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Brown School; Department of Surgery and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA;
| | - Jonathan E Fielding
- Fielding School of Public Health and Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA;
| | - Lawrence W Green
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94127, USA;
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